To spoil this episode would be nothing short of criminal, though some damage has already been done: the episode title and the IMDb plot outline for this episode drop some major hints. To read the synopsis is pointless even after you've seen this one - this is the The Closer's equivalent of The Usual Suspects, a movie that's in the top 10% of the IMDb Top 250. Would you read a synopsis of The Usual Suspects? Of course not. Like that movie, it's the execution of a magnificent script resulting in a flawless masterpiece that no synopsis can do justice. Even if you want to check some fact, "Power of Attorney" is just like The Usual Suspects - you only find yourself wanting to watch the whole thing again to appreciate how awesome it is.
So, this is one of those rare 10/10 TV episodes. How to explain what justifies that perfect rating? The Usual Suspects analogy was one thing I came up with, but I also have to stress the fact that "Power of Attorney" is also a completely different story. My theory is that those people who gave this one less than 10/10 have, like me, seen similarly structured and themed episodes on other shows and feel that this is a bit of a retread. It is not. The script takes some familiar elements but handles them with a devilishly inventive way *and* slyly serves us a biting criticism and a truly frightening look at the American justice system. The best thing about "Power of Attorney" is that on the first viewing, it presents to the long-time viewer an unfamiliar situation: usually we can be pretty sure that Brenda, with her magnificent mind, puts the pieces together, solves the mysteries and outwits the bad guys. But *this* time she is facing a Chessmaster (with the archetype comes the prerequisite that neither the audience nor the characters, with the exception of the Chessmaster themself, *know* that they are looking at a Chessmaster when the character is introduced). When the "game" truly begins, we can't be sure that Brenda will win as usual. The thrill of it all is engaging. And on the second viewing, we can admire all the "moves" of the game. Magnificent episode. And, again, a frightening one.
So, this is one of those rare 10/10 TV episodes. How to explain what justifies that perfect rating? The Usual Suspects analogy was one thing I came up with, but I also have to stress the fact that "Power of Attorney" is also a completely different story. My theory is that those people who gave this one less than 10/10 have, like me, seen similarly structured and themed episodes on other shows and feel that this is a bit of a retread. It is not. The script takes some familiar elements but handles them with a devilishly inventive way *and* slyly serves us a biting criticism and a truly frightening look at the American justice system. The best thing about "Power of Attorney" is that on the first viewing, it presents to the long-time viewer an unfamiliar situation: usually we can be pretty sure that Brenda, with her magnificent mind, puts the pieces together, solves the mysteries and outwits the bad guys. But *this* time she is facing a Chessmaster (with the archetype comes the prerequisite that neither the audience nor the characters, with the exception of the Chessmaster themself, *know* that they are looking at a Chessmaster when the character is introduced). When the "game" truly begins, we can't be sure that Brenda will win as usual. The thrill of it all is engaging. And on the second viewing, we can admire all the "moves" of the game. Magnificent episode. And, again, a frightening one.
